Introducing a lonely chick

[Wyleiria]

I have 1 hen that is a little over 2 years old and 4 hens who are over a year old. Within the last month, I have introduced and put my five 6 & 8 week old pullets out in the chicken yard with them without too much drama (slow introduction). About a week ago I was presented with the opportunity to get my very first silkie! She(I hope) was said to be 4 weeks old, so I thought it was perfect to put her with my young pullets. Well, when I picked her up, she was TINY. I am thinking the age is closer to 2-3 weeks. My 6 weekers are enormous compared to her, so I could not put her outside with them. She is inside the house, lonely, and has taken to prefer my company over the others when I take her outside for supervised playtime. Husband says no more chicks, so I can't get a buddy. I just have to wait until she grows big enough to put out with the others.

Cinnamon and Ember are the rulers of my chicken world. They are both RIR and can be bullies. I read that silkies are submissive and sweet. I am afraid they will bully her and everyone will jump in. How can I make this an easy transition for her as she would rather be with people and has no friends outside to hide with? I hate having a lone chick, I did it last year and she was an outcast until the neighbors dog got her. That was heartbreaking.

 

[guillemette]

Wow sounds like you got a problem on your hands. I wish I could be of help but am new and do not know anything. I do however fined myself wanting to post a response just to show my support. I think that I would wait till she is 8 weeks then put her in a smaller pen in the chicken run for a week and take her in at night then introduced a little at a time in the run see how she is received.

 

[azygous]

You have a problem, all right. It's your husband. He has no authority to lay down the law over a matter he doesn't comprehend.

First of all, your little Silkie is tiny because she is a bantam breed, small in size even as adults.

Second, and most crucial, is that Silkies do not have the type of feathers that enable flapping themselves up to a perch, so they do not roost as a rule. They sleep in a group on the floor. Get that? GROUP.

One more Silkie will make all the difference in the life of this Silkie chick. Chickens are at a loss without a peer. She needs an ally. Ideally, she should have two or three Silkies to spend her life with. She will be in for a very poor adjustment to the flock of standard chickens with no buddy at all.

Explain this to that husband of yours that this is why you are over-ruling him and getting one more Silkie chick.

 

[Wyleiria]

Thanks